Australia advisory to its citizens in India on TN unrest

Advisory follows Jayalalitha's conviction and ensuing unrest

Australian government today issued a new travel advisory for its citizens in India following the unrest that has gripped the state of Tamil Nadu after the conviction and sentencing of its Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in a corruption case.

Issuing the advisory, the government said, "Following the conviction and sentencing of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, we recommend that Australians in Chennai remain indoors over the weekend of 27-28 September due to increased tensions."

"In Bangalore, where the sentence was handed down, protests have resulted in police imposing prohibition orders in an area of 5 km radius from the court and jail. You should avoid this area, be vigilant, and keep abreast of latest developments," it said asking its citizens to monitor local media for the latest information.

Australian nationals overall India were adviced to exercise a high degree of caution because of the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, crime and the high rate of accidents.

Citing that violent protests and demonstrations in India often occur spontaneously and have in the past claimed a significant number of lives, the advisory said, "You should avoid locations where protests and demonstrations are being held as these may become violent."

"You should be aware that international events, political developments in the region and local events can trigger demonstrations in India, often causing disruptions to public transport," it said.

Jayalalithaa was yesterday convicted and sentenced to four years jail in an 18-year-old corruption case in a judgment that will unseat her from the post of chief minister of Tamil Nadu and could send her to political exile for 10 years.